12/31/2008 Last entry for 2008!

The weather around here is freaking nuts! Yesterday we ran in the afternoon and I started out in shorts and a long sleeve technical shirt. We only ran 6 miles but by mile 2 I was hot as hell! It was 79 freaking degrees out there! I ran the last 4 miles shirtless. Crazy! Today I had to wear pants, a jacket, gloves, and a beanie cuz it was only TWENTY NINE DEGREES!! Ridiculous! Oh, well. I got in a beautiful 12 miles this morning which was just fantastic! I work the next two nights and then off for one day. I will try to get in about 16-18 miles on Friday. At least that's the plan.
Ok, so everyone have a great New Year's Eve and be careful out there! I'm on duty tonight but don't really want to have to do anything! Peace and I'll talk to ya in 2009!

12/28/2008 On the Horizon

Today brought warmer weather with less wind so it was perfect out there. I may have dressed a little warmer than I needed but I felt okay. We ran a 10 mile out and back on 1585 and I am feeling strong and painfree. Good news since the Bandera 50K is less than 2 weeks away. I haven't had any ITB issues either which makes me extremely happy!! Thank the Gods for the discovery of the foam roller. Something so simple yet so effective! I'll probably run a little shorter tomorrow and then longer on Tuesday and Wednesday.
On another note, I have registered as a volunteer for the Gore-Tex TransRockies Run in August up in Colorado. Chris, one of the gals I ran with at Javelina, said that she had done it this last summer and it was loads of fun. So I will be hanging out in the Colorado Rockies for 6 days getting cool stuff from Salomon and Windstopper! Oh, and manning aid stations and such for a bunch of cool runners as well. They said that it will be hard work but lots of fun. Sounds great to me! I'm a little torn because the Lean Horse 100 is on August 22-23 and the TransRockies starts on the 23rd so I won't be able to run it like I'd originally planned. I figure the TransRockies Run will be a really good trade off though and I'm looking forward to it!

12/27/2008 Let's Get It Going!

Ok, so.........WOW.........thank the stars that all of that is over!! I feel like a fat freaking pig! Time to get busy now. I hit the elliptical yesterday for about 30 minutes on an easy setting and did a little bit of strength training and that was about it. Today Aubrey and I got out there and put in an easy 5 miles. I definitely could have gone longer but thought 5 was a nice number to start with. I have a few days off and the kids are with my parents until next Saturday so I can really focus on my running and my stupid weight. My "resolution" is to make my body weight 155 lbs a reality for this year, in which case I would have to lose about 15 lbs. Shouldn't be too hard. I am going to buy some kettle bells and get a training DVD and see if they are all they are cracked up to be. I hope so. Plus I plan on doing a LOT of racing this year.

12/25/2008 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

For today that's all there is to say. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS from Me and Mine!! I love you all!

12/23/2008

Work has had me by the tail the last few days. Tonight is my last night of five and it's gonna be tough to make myself go in. I've not gone and run at all the last few days simply because I've been exhausted (and it's been pretty fricking cold!). Hopefully tomorrow morning will see a little 5 miler or something but I doubt it. We have to travel to Amarillo for Christmas Eve with my family and then drive back home the same night. Anyway, I have a few days off coming up this weekend and I can put in some time running. I'm ready. My brain is really needing it. Running is to my brain as Roto-Rooter is to a stopped up toilet. It flushes the shit out!

12/18/2008 Spurring in the New Year

I thought about making this post a recap of the last year and as I was typing...........I got hand cramps. A LOT has happened this year! I'm just going to let the previous sentence suffice for all I have (or had) to say! I have even MORE stuff planned for '09 so I am primed and ready to go. Aubrey and I put in a nice, easy 8 miles this morning and had a great time. The weather was perfect! I head back to work tomorrow for a 5 night workfest which sucks big time. Again, I really hate work.
It's obviously the Christmas season so it will be busy for the next week and a half or so but I am hoping to keep the miles coming on a pretty regular basis. With Bandera looming on the horizon I feel that I need to put on the proverbial spurs and kick myself into a higher gear. YEE HAW, 2009, HERE I COME!!

I cannot wait to see this!

This movie comes out on May 1st! I am a huge superhero movie freak! I love seeing the characters that I read about as a kid come to life on the big screen! They are way too much fun! Luckily my wife and kids feel the same way. Nothing like a family of freaks!!

Oh, and no running today. Maybe tomorrow before work.

Don't I Wish!?!?!?

I always love having a little fun with Photo Shop! I got to playing around with it tonight and came up with this little farce! Cool, huh?

12/15/2008 Brrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!

The high was only like 32 today. We waited until this afternoon to get in a little 6 mile run. The wind was out of the northeast around 5-10mph so a big improvement from yesterday. It wasn't too bad once we got started since the winter clothes they make nowadays are just soooo good! You can be VERY lightweight but incredibly warm at the same time. So we're planning on a little further distance tomorrow. It's supposed to be a tad warmer so we'll see.

12/14/2008

I really wish that I could have gotten a picture of the wind today. It was gusting up into the 40+ mph range. The sand and dirt that were blowing would have given you a facial that Joan Rivers would be proud of! Anyway, Aubrey and I figured we would wait until the wind laid just a little. So around 5pm or so we headed out to 1585 and the wind was still about 20mph. But it wasn't too cold........yet. We planned on doing the same thing as yesterday by parking our cars 5 miles apart and then just running with the wind at our backs. However, my Xterra's battery cable had other ideas. It just didn't want to start once we got our there so we just called off the run for tonight. Also, about the same time, the cold front from up north blew in and we felt the temperature drop about 20 degrees while we were working on the car. We'll see what we can do tomorrow after I put in a new battery cable.

12/13/2008 Whoo Hoo

Ok, so Aubrey joined me this afternoon and we ran a fantastic 5 miles out on 1585. The wind was pretty outrageous so we parked his car at the first mile and then ran east to my car 5 miles down the road with the wind at our backs. It was really nice! My legs felt really good and so did everything else. I was actually able to kick it up for the last 200 yards to a 5:03 pace! Anyway, we are heading back out tomorrow for a little longer run for me and then Aubrey will catch on to the back side of my run. Hopefully 8 or 10 miles will happen for me. I'll let ya know. Hopefully I've beaten the African Sleeping Sickness! We shall see!

12/12/2008 Lazy Man Sittin!

I've had the last two days off................and haven't done shit but sleep! I've been completely exhausted! I'm wondering if we've had an outbreak of African Sleeping Sickness here in Lubbock!?!? Today marks the one week point since I've run. Last Friday I ran the 10 miler and then I went back to work. It's been really busy and I guess it's just worn me out! I am sitting here trying to kind of force myself out the door for a few miles before work tonight but it just ain't happening. I am just going to put it down to a "well deserved break" and not sweat it. I have Bandera coming up in a month!! I think that my base is good enough to handle any mileage jumps I may have to make in the next couple of weeks, which is good, because I am going to HAVE to make those mileage jumps. Aubrey says that he wants to run tomorrow so that will be a good motivator. He can meet me for the back half of my run, that way I can go longer. Anyway, the plan is to get back into it tomorrow! I have 6 days off after tonight so it should be doable. Now if I can just get over this damn guilt!

12/9/2008 Zach's Big Band Concert

Tonight is Zach's first band concert. Obviously it will be Christmas music that is played, among other things. He's in the 6th grade and it's his first year in band. He's a percussionist and he's actually pretty good. I don't get to go to the damn thing cuz I gotta work ,which sucks big-time!! Kelli is going to video it for me so I WILL actually get to see it in some form or fashion. Sometimes I really hate working!

12/8/2008 Rainy days and Mondays

Rainy days and Monday always get me down! That's actually a bunch of bullshit but I liked the song growing up. LOL It definitely is Monday today and it definitely IS raining but I be feelin ok. No running today simply because I'm tired from working last night. It was busy again, as usual. I thought I would get up a little earlier this afternoon and plod out a few miles but with the rain I am going to have to pick the kids up at school. They don't have far to walk but Zach has percussion equipment and I don't want it to get wet. Costs too much! Aubrey and I will try again in the am to see if we can get out there but Mondays are usually hell at work so I will have to play it by ear. Bandera's not too far away so I need to get some good runs in.

12/5/2008

Well, Christmas is just around the corner so I am trying to get as many runs in as I can before the holidays take their usual toll. I always try to keep running but sometimes the snacks and goodies get a little too enticing! Today's run was fantastic! I ran a nice, simple 10 miler with my Ipod out on 1585. The temperature was pretty cold but I made short work of that with my North Face pullover. I love that damn thing! So glad it was on sale that day. haha Anyway, I seem to have completely recovered from the leg "thing." I just keep using the roller and it seems to keep my troubles at bay. I am going to start strength training the legs big time and hitting the hills out at the lake. I think some hill repeats would do my legs some good.

12/4/2008

MAN, IT'S CHILLY OUT THERE!! About 39 degrees minus some for wind chill. I bundled up (cuz I'm a puss when it comes to cold) and headed out to 1585. I had originally planned to just put in about 4 miles again and ended up running 6 instead. I just felt pretty good so I kept going. I hit the foam roller before AND after my run and my ITB's are feeling ok. I plan on getting out a little earlier tomorrow and running but I'm not sure what kind of mileage I am going to put in. I guess I'll figure it out while I'm out there.

Okay, so Kelli and I want to go tomorrow night and see the movie, Twilight! We've been wanting to go since it came out but haven't had the time. If you haven't read the books, you need to! They're really amazing. They are actually written for older teens and younger adults but Kelli and I both have read the entire series and thoroughly enjoyed them.

12/01/2008

I got the 4 miles in this morning. The weather is better than yesterday, that's for sure. It is, however, still freaking cold. It's about 25 with the wind chill which made for a very brisk run. This was only the second run for Aubrey in a month so he is just now getting back into it. Depending on how work goes tonight we'll put in some more miles in the morning. I still need to figure out what my next race will be. I think I am going to take December off and start looking at January for my next one. Maybe Ghost Town 38.5 in January and then Rocky in February. Are there any other good races out there in January?? If you guys have any ideas, let me know!

11/30/2008

So.........I don't mind running in the cold and I don't mind running in the rain. I do, however, mind running in the cold AND the rain. I planned on putting in a few miles this am with Aubrey but by the time he got to the house there was a pretty steady rain coming down.........and it was 39 degrees. Hell no! I've got to make a quick road trip to pick up the kids from my parents and if the weather is better when I get home I'll run but I may have to wait til tomorrow am.

11/27/2008 Happy Thanksgiving/Turkey Trot

Race time was 0900 this morning. It was absolutely gorgeous outside, about 45 degrees with no wind. There was a SHITLOAD of people out there! I love how no one really runs at all during the year but then the whole family comes out to run the Turkey Trot. Weird! Oh, well. Anyway, I actually felt pretty good out there today. I ran the 12K or 7.5 miles, whichever way you want to look at it. I really didn't have any issues with pain at all. I got kind of tired towards the end of it but I expected that. Overall, I kept an 8:50 pace so not too terribly fast but once again, that's not what I am out there for. I ran with a friend from work, a little bitty pharmacist named Kimberli, for the first 3 miles of the race and then she left my ass in the dust when I stopped for a drink at an aid station. She is going to run Whiterock in Dallas on 12/14 and is totally stoked. It will be her first marathon. Her longest run so far is 11 miles and man, can she run. I wish her the best of luck and I know that she'll have a phenomenal time there. Whiterock is a fantastic race with all the bells and whistles. Anyway, everyone have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! Peace!

11/23/2008 Madeleine Diva

Not sure if I'm going to run today. I have been advised that maybe some rest will do me good and I tend to agree. On a lighter note, we have a new family friend. We picked her up yesterday afternoon late. Her name is Madeleine Diva, she's a dachshund puppy born on 9/24/2008. Cute as hell! Enjoy the video!

11/22/2008

After a nice breakfast of homemade French Toast, Lite Syrup, and Turkey sausage I headed out to 1585. Before I went out though I made sure to hammer my ITB's with the roller. It didn't help too much. ha The lateral aspect of my right knee, which is the insertion point of the ITB, was pretty sore after about 2.5 miles and I had to take it pretty easy the last mile and a half. All in all it was a good 4 mile run but I wished I could have gone farther. It is absolutely gorgeous outside too which didn't make going home any easier. Anyway, obviously, I have more work to do on the ol' IT bands. That which does not kill us, makes us stronger. Toes felt good though. haha

11/21/2008

Alllllllllrighty then. The toes are almost back to being pain free but the nails have yet to fall off. I am ready for that. I wish I could go and have them fixed so they never grow back again. They just get in the way anyway. ha Ok, so my legs have been back to normal for the last 3 days or so which is fantastic and more than I could have hoped for considering how they felt during my last loop of the race and the next day. I am rolling them out at least twice a day so I guess that's what's helping the most. I plan on a nice little recovery run tomorrow, not sure how long yet. Also I signed up for the 12K at the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. I'll keep ya posted.

11/18/2008 Getting better...........physically.

Ok, so this morning I got up and there was pus under two of my toenails on my left foot and then both of my big toenails had large amounts of serous fluid under them. So I used an 18g needle to make short work of all the problem areas. They definitely don't have the pressure under them that they did have! My shoes are extremely comfortable so I don't know exactly what caused this major nail issue but oh, well. I will survive. So still trying to figure out exactly what happened at the race for me not to finish other than the fact of being a big wuss. I really don't think of myself as a wuss but I really do wonder what would have happened if I had actually gone back out on the course with my legs, ankle, and foot feeling the way they did. Would they have perked up and felt better or have disintegrated even further?? I will never know. I guess I am upset that I didn't summon the gumption to find out. That won't happen again.

WTF!! Ork feet!!

If there is ever any question as to how nasty runners can be..........just check these bad boys out!! SEXY!!!

Let's start this off by saying, first and foremost, that I had a wonderful time. Both running in beautiful country and also getting to meet so many good friends. Aubrey and I headed out on Friday morning around 0200 and drove to Arizona in my Xterra. It took us about 11 hours and 15 minutes. Not too bad. We actually got there early enough that we got to set up our tent right beside the headquarters. I was able to pick up my packet around 5pm and I was really pleased with the bag o' stuff. I got a really nice tech shirt from North Face and a set of black fleece Moeben sleeves, plus lots of other cool stuff. The pasta dinner hit the spot too and I got to meet a bunch of other runners which is always fun. I finally got to meet Tony of irunultras.com, one of my friends from the blogging world. It was really nice to meet him in person finally. Congrats on your finish, Tony, you are one tough mofo!
So anyway, Aubrey and I headed to bed pretty early that evening and slept really well. I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed by 0400 and they had coffee for us to drink too, which was straight from the gods! After slamming a couple of Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme pies and washing it down with coffee, I was ready to go. The race started at 0600. We were pre-warned to not go out too fast on the first loop. So I didn't............I thought. I really felt great going out, enjoying the company of the different people on the course and just stretching out my legs in such gorgeous terrain. I loved the saguaros! They were really cool! Anyway, I made it around the 15.3 mile loop in 2:59. I grabbed a chocolate Boost and refilled my hand bottle and took off again. On the second loop I was able to catch up with Tony and his gang. We played leap frog for awhile and then I finally pulled ahead and would stay that way until the 4th loop. Also on the second loop I caught up with a fellow nurse from San Diego. Her name was Chris and we got to gabbing since we were running pretty much the same pace at that time. She got to talking about her friend that was running up ahead and we figured out that her friend was Jill, the gal that I ran with quite a bit at Rocky Raccoon. I caught up to her and we enjoyed catching up on our races and such. So on and on I went, finishing the second loop in around 3:09. Another Boost and a bottle refill and I was off again. I also stopped at the aid station and grabbed a couple of bean roll-ups. I really did a good job of fueling I think. I used the new GU Roctane as my primary fuel source and really liked them. I also changed clothes before I took off which seemed to help revitalize me a little. The third loop was fairly uneventful. I did run into a baby tarantula and thought he was pretty cool. Some other runners said that they had seen a rattlesnake and a coyote. I think I would rather deal with the baby tarantula. ha Anyway, at the end of the third loop I still felt pretty good, finishing it in about 3:40 or so. I was getting excited about finishing the 4th loop so I could have Aubrey out on the course with me as my pacer. It gets pretty lonely out there after awhile. About a third of the way into the 4th loop it started getting dark so I turned on my headlamp and listened to my Ipod for the first time during the race. This, however, is the loop where "it all went to hell in a handbasket" for me. I wish I could figure out what happened. I felt really good going into it but about halfway through the lap my right ITB just absolutely seized up on me. It was really, really tight. Then my left one started up. I really don't know what happened. My legs were absolutely gone. Even my right Achille's was starting to freak out. I was able to continue walking at a decent pace but it hurt like freaking HELL. The only thing I could think about was getting back to headquarters and using the foam roller on my ITB's and getting some Advil into me and see if that would help. The people that I had passed quite a bit earlier were catching up and passing me. That never really bothers me in a race cuz I ain't in it to win but it was really disheartening because it let me know that I wasn't moving very well. Tony caught up to me and we talked for a minute and then he was gone again, looking strong. He had had some heat issues earlier on but after the sun went down he was all over it. Anyway, I plodded along and eventually made it back to the headquarters. Aubrey and I talked about my predicament and decided that rather than really risk serious injury, I would call it quits and take the 100K buckle. Not at all how I planned it and I'm still not sure what I would have done if they wouldn't have had the 100K buckle option. This was my first stab at this distance and I decided out on the course that 100 miles is "a long fucking way to run!" I will definitely give it another whirl in the near future though. I have so many mixed emotions about the decision that I made too. I had so many friends really encouraging me to continue on and wanting to see me do well that it really made dropping at 100K difficult. However, considering how fucked up my feet are right now, I think I made the right decision. My feet are swollen double and my toes look like vienna sausages. I am fixing to lose about 8 toenails too. My ITB's don't feel too horribly bad today but are definitely fatigued. I will take about a week off and then pick it back up again.

For anyone wanting to consider Javelina as a race for 2009 I can highly recommend it. The aid stations and volunteers were top notch! The course is gorgeous and not too terribly tough. Make sure to do your heat training though. The heat wasn't really a factor for me, it felt just like home.

Ok, so, my plans for my next attempt at a hundred miler (don't know which one yet).
1. I guess go out slower. I thought I did but I guess it was just a little too fast.
2. I am going to start doing lots of strength training for my legs. I'm really tired of my fucking ITB's going crazy on me.
3. Continue to fuel and drink appropriately. This was one of my strongest points during Javelina. No stomach upset or bonking, energy-wise, at all!
4. If you have any other ideas of what I could do.....LET ME KNOW!!!

11/10/2008

Man, this month is really slipping by. Craziness!! I got up early this morning and helped get the kids off to school then hit the road for an easy 6 miles. The weather was perfect and my legs felt great. I thought about going further but decided it wouldn't be beneficial OR detrimental so I just packed it in at 6. I may or may not run in the morning, depending on how my night at work goes. I work Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights and then off for 5 nights. Ready to rock and roll in Arizona!

11/8/2008 Buffalo Wallow

A 9am start brought cooler temperatures but it warmed up pretty quickly. A little too quickly actually. I wore a North Face pullover and a pair of CW-X tights and it was too much. Oh, well. Overall it was a good run. I finished in 2:09 so not the fastest but that's not what I was out there for. Just getting some more miles under the ol' belt before Javelina next Saturday. The hills, as usual, were pretty intense so I walked most of the long uphills. It's so hard to incorporate a walk/run with everyone around you "racing" to the finish. You can easily get caught up in the throng and take off way too quickly. I did well, I think, hanging back and taking my time. I'm not sure what kind of mileage I am going to put in tomorrow but I don't think it needs to be very far. I am really going to hit the foam roller this week too so I am nice and "kneaded" for next weekend. Anyway, more later. Ciao!

11/7/2008

I got off my ass this morning and Aubrey and I ran a nice little fast-paced 5 miles. I felt great, the weather was absolutely gorgeous. It was only about 30 degrees but no wind. Tomorrow morning is the Buffalo Wallow out at the lake. A very hilly half marathon. I believe it's touted as the "Most Challenging Half In The State!" Not sure how they qualify that but oh, well. It definitely IS a tough course. Some of the hills that we will be running on are part of the bike course and running course of the Buffalo Springs Lake Ironman 70.3. Should be a nice run though. I'll let ya know.

11/3/2008

Another 6 miles covered this morning after work. Probably 8 tomorrow morning if I have a good night at work. The Buffalo Wallow is this weekend out at Buffalo Springs Lake. It's a half marathon with the West Texas Running Club and it's a really nice hilly run so I definitely plan on doing it. I think that will be the longest run I will go for at this point in time. I am totally stoked about Javelina coming up. Aubrey will be going with me and both crew and pace me later in the race. Should be some kinda fun! The race director has created a blog to keep everyone updated which is VERY cool! The site is javelinajundred.blogspot.com. Check it out.

10/31/2008

Happy Halloween, everyone!
Aubrey and I have gotten out the last two days and put in 6 mile runs both days. Feeling pretty good out there but need to go a little further in the next week or so. If I can get myself motivated tomorrow I will put in a longer run. Aubrey has to work tonight so that counts him out. I may actually use my Ipod for once. We shall see! Peace, guys, and have a "scary" evening!!

10/27/2008

After work this morning I hit the road and ran an easy 8 miles out on 1585. It was colder than I'd expected and wished that I had worn my gloves. It warmed up a little on the way back though so it made for a nice morning. Anyway, back to work tonight..............again. Man, I gotta win the lottery.

10/24/2008

Finally.........I was able to get out today and run a little. I've been working every freaking night since Monday. I really hate working that much. My legs were back to normal by Wednesday morning, no soreness at all. I had thought about running that morning after work but I had to get up early to pick up Zach from school. So today, being my only day off, I got to put in a nice 5 miles with Aubrey. I felt really good out there too, which is good cuz now I need to start building my mileage again so I can be ready for Javelina in less than a month. Well, I am going to go finish enjoying my one freaking day off. More later.

10/18/2008 Palo Duro Trail Run Race Report

We made it to Canyon around 5pm or so on Friday. Kelli, Zach, Kenzie, Aubrey, and I had all crammed into my Xterra for the trip. We checked in at race headquarters and picked up our race packets then headed to the hotel to meet my parents. We obviously had pasta on the brain so we headed to Olive Garden for a gentle carb load. You can't beat Olive Garden's Alfredo to dip your bread sticks in. Hello!! I had a bowl of Zuppa Tuscano soup and then my main meal was the Ravioli di Portobello! Hell yeah, it was good!!
Ok, so the next morning we got up and headed to the canyon. It was pretty chilly to start off. We started on the dot at 7am. It was dark still so we had to use head lamps for the first 45 minutes or so. Aubrey was running the 50k while I ran the 50 mile but we all started together. I really got aggravated that we started so far back in the queue. It was like a cattle chute for the first 3 miles and really effed up my first loop time. Anyway, at the 3.5 mile aid station Aubrey and the rest of the 50K'ers peeled off to the right and the 50 milers headed left. Each loop was 12.5 miles long. It was much hillier than I had expected. (A pattern that I've started to notice) The first loop was really easy after I finally broke free from the cattle chute. I finished it in 2:38. Aggravating. Once back at the main aid station I just refilled my bottle and then headed on. My family hadn't made it to the race yet so I didn't have to worry about them. The second loop was much better than the first. The trail was absolutely gorgeous. It had nice soft dirt on the majority of it all but there were definitely some areas that were pretty rocky and the hills were steep. I ran a negative split on my second loop at around 2:20 or so. Kelli and the rest of the family was there rooting for me which put a little extra energy in my step. I hit the ice chest and grabbed a chocolate Boost and took off again. The third loop was a little more difficult. Duh! I hit a rock with the ball of my foot halfway through the third loop. I would find out the next day that I had a 1 1/2 x 3/4 inch blood blister on the ball of my right foot. ha Good thing Kelli and I are both nurses. We made short work of it. So after the third loop I grabbed another Boost and headed out for the final lap. I had heard that lots of people had DNF'd due to the heat. From what I heard, it was around 83 degrees. It felt hot to me but not THAT bad. I just stayed hydrated and felt ok. So I finally made it in at about 11 hours and 16 seconds. Pretty good, I thought for the hills and heat I stayed pretty tough. I am posting this now on Monday night/Tuesday morning and my legs are feeling fine. My right foot is just a little sore but not bad. All in all, it was a great run and I will definitely give it another go next year.

10/14/2008

Fall is definitely here! Today it's about 50 degrees, cloudy, and raining. No running today. I may get on the elliptical if I feel industrious but more than likely I will just do some pushups and stuff like that. Aubrey and I ran a really nice 9 miles yesterday. The weather was perfect yesterday being a little overcast and cool. I love running in the fall weather, sans rain. Anyway, I may get a couple more shorter runs in before Palo Duro but all in all I feel that I am ready for the 50 miler. Mom and Dad, my nieces, and my wife and kids will all be there for this run so that makes it even more special. Mom and Dad haven't been to one of my races since I bumbled my way through the Buffalo Springs Lake Half Ironman almost 3 years ago. This should prove to be some kind of fun!

10/11/2008

I've only been able to get a couple of runs in this week since I've been at work ALL freaking week. I signed up for an extra shift on Thursday for extra money and it really took it's toll. I'm exhausted! Monday, before I went back to work, Aubrey and I ran a little 4 mile recovery run and felt fantastic. We were going to run 10 miles on Wednesday but we were both worn out from working all night and I knew that I had to get up early to go pick up Zach after his robotic's class after school too. We decided to wait until today to get a little more distance in. Today's run, however, was pretty shitty. It's cloudy and it rained on us a little and neither one of us felt that into it. We just plodded along for 8 miles. We had originally planned to put in 15 today but just couldn't bring ourselves to do it. I will try and get at least 10 miles done on Monday. I don't think that's too close to Palo Duro, especially since it's just 10 miles. We shall see. Keep your fingers crossed!

10/4/2008 Crossroads Marathon Report

Today was the inaugaral Crossroads Marathon and it went off without a hitch! The race started pretty much right on time, the course was beautiful, the aid stations were great, and the start/finish area was really cool. Aubrey and I stayed very true to our normal pace and walk/run ratio and ran it in just about the same time as Albuquerque. We finished in 4:30-something, feeling strong at the end. The only bad part of it all was the 15-20 mph wind directly in our face for the last 10 miles of the run. That was NO FUN! However, I have absolutely no soreness in my legs so I am really pleased even though I did the stupid thing and wore my new Speed Cross 2's. Of course that was a gamble but they're new shoes and I HAD to try them out, ya know! I really like them. I think they will be an excellent replacement for my New Balance mr790's. Still light but more cushioning. Anway, all in all, a GREAT day!! Ready for Palo Duro in two weeks!

10/1/2008

Okay, so Crossroads being in a couple of days, we got out and put in 6 miles this morning after work. Feeling good and ready to go!
I haven't received my new shoes yet but they should be here before too long. I don't think it would be a smart idea to wear them for the marathon anyway. Ok, I'll post in a couple of days and let ya know what's up.

9/28/2008

We put in a nice, easy 16 miles out on 1585. Around 0830 we hit the road so it was calm and cool out there. As the run wore on, the heat picked up and there was not a breeze to be had. Weird for the Plains of Texas! We did pretty good though, still feeling strong. I head back to work tonight for the next 4 days. I have GOT to win the lottery! Work gets in the way of life, ya know? I will probably take the next couple of days off from running and then put in 6-8 miles on Wednesday. I have Crossroads on Saturday so I definitely won't run on Thursday or Friday. Anyway, I guess I had better get ready for work. Damn!

9/27/2008

This morning's run wasn't as incredible as yesterday's. ha We just ran a little 4 mile recovery run and felt like shit the whole time. Man, you just gotta love running!! Yesterday we were on top of the world and today we were under it. In all honesty, it wasn't THAT bad but we were still chuckling that our legs felt a little fatigued. We did really push ourselves pretty hard yesterday on the 10 miler and really kicked it out at the end. We ran a 7:30 pace the last mile and I actually pushed it up to 5:30 pace the last 50 yards. Anyway, we just did the 4 miles today so we'll have some left in the tank for tomorrow.
I went ahead and ordered a pair of Speedcross 2's and they should be here on Tuesday or Wednesday. Looking forward to that! I love getting new stuff! I also need a new headlamp. Jemez did my last one in! Seems like Jemez was just out to get me.

9/26/2008

My runs are just getting better and better. Aubrey and I put in a nice, easy 10 miler today and my legs were just absolutely HUMMING with energy. Man, I love that feeling!! It is so nice when your training takes you to where you need to be. I am soooo ready for Palo Duro and Javelina. Javelina will be my first attempt at a hundred miler so I have no idea what to expect, other than a lot of pain towards the end.
On the shoe subject, I am looking at the Salomon Speedcross 2's. They have more support and more cushioning while only adding a couple of three ounces to the shoe. I am going to keep my eye out and see what I can come up with.

9/25/2008

Another nice, round 6 miler for today. It's getting a little repetitive I know but while we're working, it's all we can muster. ha On our next few days off we'll go longer. We're both feeling really strong out there so it won't be difficult. We have Crossroads coming up a week from Saturday and we're looking forward to that. On another note, I am kind of wanting to find a new trail shoe to start wearing. I have been running the last several months in the New Balance mr790's (the yellow ones cuz they make me feel fast!!). I really like them but I am wanting a little more cushioning and support without getting a heavy shoe. I am really, really fond of the mr790's simply because they are sooooo light and minimal but I think my feet and legs would benefit from more support and cushioning. Any suggestions for good shoes or comments would be appreciated. I have also thought about just getting some really good, cushioned insoles and sticking those in my 790's. I still REALLY miss my old La Sportiva Slingshots!! They were PERFECT!!

9/23/2008

Busy night at work, Beautiful morning again, Ran 6 miles. Nuff said!

9/22/2008

Last night I had to work until 0300. The night wasn't too busy which is very atypical. That made it possible for me to get up a little earlier than I normally would. Anyway, I got up around 0945 and called Aubrey and we headed out to 1585 and ran 6 miles again. I just didn't feel like running 12-15 today. We're going to go back out tomorrow after work and see how that goes. Mondays are typically Hell in the ER so I can expect to get my ass handed to me on a silver platter but I definitely need to get the mileage in. C'est la vie!

9/21/2008

All humans should be forced out of bed early on mornings such as this one! Perfectly serene and amazing! It's cool and calm once again out there, another perfect morning for running. It's actually so cool outside this morning that I almost had to put on some running pants instead of shorts. I'm a real tit when it comes to being cold! I would never have survived the above photo shoot. It looks WAY too cold for me!! It is, however, one of my favorite Greenpeace photos.
Even though the morning was fantastic, we didn't have the time that we wanted to spend so we only ran 6 miles. Aubrey worked all night and has to get up early this afternoon for his grandson to come over. I am working tonight but only til 0300. I can get up around 9 or 10 tomorrow and we can get in a good 12-15 miles then I can go back to bed for work tomorrow night.

9/19/2008 An Early Fall??

The last couple of days have been fantastic. We have a hint of an early fall in the air and the weather is cool and calm. Just great for early morning running. Yesterday Aubrey and I ran a nice, round 12 miles. And then today we recovered with 5 miles at a little bit brisker pace. We have the inaugaral Crossroads Marathon in Odessa, Tx coming up on the 4th of October. We obviously don't know what to expect but we do know that it's put on by the Crossroads Fellowship Church there in Odessa so they should have lots of good volunteers. haha It's a Boston qualifier which is pretty impressive for a first time marathon. Again, we are just going to use it as a training run so no pressure to do well, just to finish and feel good.

9/17/2008

I had to take the last three days off because of work but I got back out there today. I got in a 6 mile run this morning. The weather was beautiful, just a little warm. It's so hard to run when I am working though. I gotta figure out how to get that done.

So this afternoon, Kenzie came in with Thor and I snapped a couple of pics. Isn't he gorgeous? I couldn't catch him with his teeth bared in typical chihuahua style but I got a couple of good shots! He wore the bikini for a second but I think he ended up ripping it to shreds.

9/13/2008

The weather here today is gorgeous. It's overcast and cool with a slight breeze. No telling what Hurricane Ike will throw our way later but right now it is great running weather. Aubrey and I ran 10 miles out on 1585 this morning. I'm really happy with how I am feeling day to day. It definitely bodes well for the marathon, 50 miler, and 100 miler coming up in the very near future. I am trying to focus on my diet more closely cuz I want/need to lose about 12-15 lbs before my 50 miler. If I get focused it should happen. We shall see.

Hundred Year Flood

Wow! Some of these pics are amazing! Apparently yesterday broke all the records in Lubbock. They cancelled the kids' school today due to RAIN, a first in the history of Lubbock! We actually have a little sun today but not for long I don't think. The rain is supposed to continue into the weekend and Hurricane Ike hasn't even come ashore yet! Craziness!
Aubrey and I ran a simple 6 miles this am and I'm feeling good but really wish the weather would lay so we could get in some more good long runs. Oh, well, we pray for rain and we get it!
Enjoy the pics of the Tech Stadium! This will bring a whole new concept to the sport of football! How will they ever swim with all those pads on??

9/12/2008

If you haven't been watching the news, check this out.

Rain creates emergency status in city
By Josh Hull | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Friday, September 12, 2008
Story last updated at 9/12/2008 - 2:27 am

While Lubbock looked east the past few weeks to see if hurricanes would bring evacuees here, the city was drenched by storms coming from the west as six inches of rain caused numerous problems Thursday.
More rain is possible through this weekend, which could cause cancellations or rescheduling for community and sporting events.
No high school football games have been canceled yet, but athletic directors across the area said they will monitor the situation to make sure no one will be in danger.
Thursday's impact was widespread:
• Lubbock, Cooper and Frenship schools are closed today in anticipation of flooded streets.
• Reports of cars trapped by floodwaters across the city poured into Lubbock emergency offices across the area, including some confirmed reports of flooded homes, said Lubbock Mayor Tom Martin. For thousands of other drivers, the heavy all-day rains made driving a chore and some roads were also closed.
• Martin said he planned on declaring a state of emergency for the city to respond to flooding he believes will reach the status of a hundred-year flood.
• City officials said they were using Lubbock County inmates to fill 5,000 sandbags to place in the heavily flooded areas, particularly the area around 66th Street and Avenue W.
• Martin said normal city services, including trash pick-up, may be canceled during the next few days until water levels start to recede. Also as a result of the flooding, wastewater from the water treatment plant was released into the Yellowhouse Canyon to accommodate excess water which is overloading the system.
• Lubbock County Judge Tom Head said he planned on declaring a state of emergency for the county also as rain water continued to flood roads across the area. "Please try to stay in your homes unless it's an emergency," Head said. "If you are in a car, do not drive through water as it only takes a little to lift a car."
Because the city has been on standby to receive evacuees from Hurricane Ike, Martin said the shelter facilities could be used to house Lubbock residents displaced by flooding.
"A lot of people are concerned about the hurricane, but at the same time we have a disaster of our own in Lubbock," he said.
Martin said the flood would not affect Lubbock's status as a possible placement site for refugees from the Gulf Coast, though an emergency city council meeting was scheduled for 1 p.m. today to discuss appropriate responses to damage caused by the rain.
An emergency callback system was activated by the city to notify people in areas heavily affected by flooding about the possibility of water reaching homes.
Officials warned people to stay out of floodwaters and out of the playa lakes as they pose a significant danger for drowning.


So obviously I haven't been able to run the last couple of days. haha Aubrey and I are headed out for a short run this am between rain storms. I'll let ya know how it goes this afternoon.

9/6/2008

Last night was busy as Hell! It always seems to be nowadays with people using the Emergency Rooms for primary care. It never ceases to amaze me what people will come to the ER for. Anyway, I was pretty exhausted when I got off work this morning but I still got out and ran 8 miles with Aubrey. I bought new shoes to wear to work and last night was my first time to use them. THEY SUCKED!! My feet were torn up before the shift was half over. It made my run painful big time. Crazy freaking shoes! Don't ever buy Street Cars! Seriously, the balls of my feet were on fire and the backs of my ankles were blistered. I've never had a pair of shoes do that to me. Back to my Nike Frees for work! They're comfy!

9/4/2008

Okey dokey, things are going really well. Aubrey and I put in another 5 miles today and I am hoping to up the ante tomorrow and put in more like 8 miles in the morning if I can haul my ass out of bed early enough. I start back to night shift tomorrow night and will be on for 6 shifts. That's way too many in a row as far as I'm concerned but I'm still on orientation. I will be off of orientation at the end of this 6 day stretch then my schedule will be back to a little more normal. Ok, so, running plans. First the Crossroads Marathon on 10/4 as a training run, then the Palo Duro Canyon 50 miler on 10/18 which is a training run for the Javelina Jundred on 11/15-16 if my entry goes through. Lots of running coming up so I hope I am up to it. If I feel as good as I do now it won't be a problem. We shall see!

9/3/2008

I'm sitting here relaxing, listening to some bad ass music and just thinking about how good I feel right now. After the marathon on Sunday I had to work Monday and Tuesday so I didn't run. I don't think that I would have felt like it anyway since my calves were pretty tight. However, today was a new day and I headed out for a recovery run of about 3 miles. I ran five instead. I just felt great! Yay, ME!! I went ahead today and sent in my entry for the Javelina Jundred in November. I don't know if they will accept it or not but the website says that if the entry is postmarked by Friday they will consider it. I guess we'll see. There's another marathon coming up on October 4th in Odessa so that will be a great training run two weeks before the Palo Duro Canyon 50 miler on the 18th. Strange to be using all these races as training runs but I really like it that way. That way there are more people around to keep me motivated and inspired. See ya down the road!

8/31/2008 New Mexico Marathon

I tried to blog a little this morning from my cell phone while I was waiting for the race to start but I couldn't log on from there. Oh, well. As I said before, Aubrey and I just used this race as a training run. We used a run 20 minutes/walk 5 minutes ratio and we only finished 15 minutes slower than last year when we ran the whole thing and hurt like hell afterwards. This was MUCH better. The day couldn't have been any better. It was completely overcast and cool, like in the 60's all morning. There were plenty of fun people on the course as well which always makes the time more endurable. We finished in around 4:28 I think. As you can see from the course profile there is a great long downhill part of the race. This is why I think that this would be a great course for a marathon PR or to try and qualify for Boston if that's what your into. I'm not!

8/28/2008

Ok, so Aubrey and I got out and ran 8 miles this morning as a last minute training run before our BIG training run this weekend. We are stoked and ready to go. I always love heading out of town for races. Albuquerque is a great place for a marathon. I am going to rest up for the next couple of days and then be ready to roll. I work again tomorrow and then off for the weekend. I will let ya know how it goes on Sunday night. Til then, wish me luck!

8/24/2008

Man, what a lazy ass I've been. Well, not really. In all actuality I've been busy as Hell this week. I've been in hospital and nursing orientation during the day Monday-Friday and then we've had the kids' open house at school two different nights, with baseball games, and post-wedding parties, and the list goes on and on. Anyway, needless to say, I've not been able to get much running in. I ran a whole 2.6 miles yesterday in the middle of everything. Yeah, that'll help! Finally today I set my alarm early enough that I was able to get out of bed and head out for a really nice 15 miles. Believe it or not I felt really good. Maybe the time off helped or something. I was really pleased with how it went. I head back to work Monday and Tuesday then I can get in another 15-18 miles in before the marathon on Sunday.

8/17/2008

Another beautiful day for running! 65 degrees overcast with no wind. It just doesn't get much better. Also I had a new running partner for today. Her name is Tricia and she is a travel nurse from Montana. She works in the recovery room at UMC with my wife. I met her for the first time at Deborah's wedding where we danced and drank wine. haha Anyway, her son-in-law was killed in Iraq almost a year ago and she and her daughters made up their minds to run the Marine Corp Marathon in October in memoriam. She came over last night for supper and as we got to talking I found our that she was needing to run 12 miles today. What a coincidence! Me too! So she came over this morning about 0930 and we took off out to 1585. This was to be her longest run to date and she was thrilled to have the company. Anyway, her pace is considerably slower than mine but it worked out well since I could run ahead and then loop back to pick her up. She did really well and I feel like she is right on target to run the marathon quite comfortably in October. All in all, it was a really nice run. My total mileage for the day ended up being 12.8 miles. I am still really feeling good so I'm stoked. And Tricia was totally elated at making the 12 miles. Man, I love running!

8/16/2008

It rained like crazy last night. The whole town is flooded still. 1585 wasn't too bad so I was able to get out there and run a cool 8 miler. It was still relatively overcast and the high for today was only 76 degrees. VERY nice! I am going to have to run alone for the next week since Aubrey and his wife left this morning for an Alaskan Cruise. They'll be gone for a week. I'm jealous! Kelli and I have been wanting to do that for years. Oh, well, maybe in the near future. Anyway, training is going well and I'm feeling good. It's great to be home. I miss my friends in Hobbs but I plan on pulling some extra shifts there as much as possible for extra money. I am hopefully going to be able to get out and run 10-12 miles tomorrow. We'll see.

8/13/2008

I talked to Aubrey last night while he was at work and he wasn't sure if he would run this morning since he was working all night. He's an RN in a Pediatric ICU, just in case I haven't ever mentioned it here. Anyway, I told him if he wanted to run then just to call on his way home around 0730 or so. If he didn't call I would get to sleep late and run later in the afternoon. I woke up around 0800 and he hadn't called yet so I fell back to sleep. Then..........he called. haha He had gone out to breakfast with his wife and in-laws. Anyway, we headed out to 1585 around 0900 or so and ran a really great 10 miles. Both of us are feeling really strong on the longer runs which makes me really happy. I was even able to bump it up to a 7:45 pace for the last mile. I won't be able to run again until tomorrow evening after work. I work 0700-1900 tomorrow and Friday.

8/11/2008

Today was FANTASTIC!! It's cloudy and cool, and it rained all night. I got up fairly early for me, around 0830, and Aubrey and I hit the road out on 1585. We ran a nice, round 10 miles, maybe just a little over. The coolness made it a lot easier and more enjoyable. My training is fairly on track I think. We'll up the mileage next week to 12 and 15 miles then get in an 18 miler or so the following week before the New Mexico Marathon. Now that I am home it will be a little easier.
I start tomorrow in the ER at Covenant. I will be on orientation for around 5 or 6 weeks. A little long for an old ER vet but oh, well, I will enjoy it. I am really happy to be home and can't wait to start loading the house up with good groceries and start cooking again. I may try and do a detox for a couple of days before I get back to really focusing on my diet. I need to find some fantastic vegetarian recipes and get to cookin'.

8/8/2008

Well, today's Deborah and Scott's big day! Deborah is my wife's older sister and she is getting married today. This is her first, and hopefully ONLY, marriage so it's a pretty big deal. Anyway, I'm an usher so I've had to be part of the rehearsal and all that kind of stuff. I'm ready for it all to be over with. haha My wife tells me to shut up cuz I ain't having to deal with ALL of it like she is. She's the Maid of Honor so she's been pretty busy too. With all the wedding stuff and family coming in and all that jazz I wasn't able to run yesterday at all. I did, however, make it out this morning for a 5 mile speed workout. I'm feeling pretty good out there so that's a plus. Amyway, once we're all settled and everything I can pick up the mileage. Gotta get ready for New Mexico.

8/6/2008

Well, not a whole lot to report yet. Aubrey and I ran 6 miles on Monday and I felt really strong. However, I ran only a mile yesterday because my stomach wasn't very happy. It's all better now but damn! We got out today on 1585 and ran 5 miles. Fairly short I know but I will hopefully build my mileage fairly quickly now that I am going to be home. I am planning on 8-10 miles tomorrow, longer if I feel like it. Mom and Dad are coming into town tomorrow mid-afternoon because my sister-in-law is getting married on Friday "08/08/08." Cute, huh? Anyway, I have to wear an effing tux which I am none too happy about. They are fabric torture devices as far as I am concerned. ha On the other hand, my little sister is planning on getting married next year and I've been told that I will have to wear Wranglers and boots. If you know anything about me then you know that Wranglers and boots are the LAST thing that I would choose to wear ANYWHERE. Texan, or not! ha I have warned her that if I have to wear Wranglers, I will stick the largest pair of tube socks I can find into the front of my jeans and wear them proudly! Needless to say I have been warned by my Mother. Oh, well, wish my luck.........again.

8/3/2008

Well, I am almost done with the contract in Hobbs. I only have two days left, next Saturday and Sunday. I am ready, ready, ready!
Ok, so of course I didn't run while I was there but tonight Aubrey and I ran 4 miles and I felt pretty decent. I have six days off and I plan on running all of them. We have definitely decided to run the New Mexico Marathon this month too so that will make for a good training run. We aren't going to approach it as a marathon "race" per se but just as the good training run. The NM Marathon is a smaller field than your typical marathon, usually around 300 or so. It's a beautiful course with the first 8 miles being gently uphill then you make a left hand turn and run downhill for 6 miles. It IS a Boston qualifier so if that's what you were into then it would really be a great race to use. With the downhills you can definitely make up some time. Anyway, we'll see how everything goes.

Got Rid of Some Wild Hair

Ok, I know that most people "GET a wild hair" and do this kind of stuff but in my case, "I got RID of some wild hair." I guess I finally just got tired of it. I've kept my hair buzzed for the last 5 years and just started growing it in December because a coworker wanted to see what it would look like. Stupid, I know, but I did it anyway. Well, no more. haha Back to the original. Send me some comments, peeps, and let me know what ya think.

7/29/2008

I woke up early again today for some stupid reason. Not sure why I'm not sleeping that great. Anyway, Aubrey came over around 9am and we ran a little 4 miler out on 1585. There were some storms in the area overnight so it was fairly humid. Even at 9am it was starting to get pretty hot. I'm glad we got the run done early cuz right now it's freaking hot outside. Aubrey has to go back to work tonight so I doubt that he will run tomorrow but I am hoping to put in some miles. No specific plans as of yet but I definitely plan on running. Then back to Hobbs on Thursday. Gag! Just ready to be home!

7/28/2008

Okey dokey, I made it out to the hospital today and got my TB test and my pee test all done. The results should be in by Wednesday. Not that I am concerned with either. Tonight, Aubrey and I made it out to 1585 and ran a little over 8 miles. It was a nice cool evening so it made it a pretty nice. I felt really good on this run as well so I am really pleased. We'll do something a little shorter tomorrow then I will be on my own for Wednesday. Not sure what the plan will be for that day.

7/27/2008

Wow! It's been awhile. Sorry for being so neglectful of this thing. Anyway, I actually HAVE been running some which is good. Aubrey is really getting back into to it as well. He got a wild hair and registered for the Mother Road 100 in November. So this in turn will inspire me to run a little more. We ran 4 miles yesterday and 6 today and then we'll go a little farther tomorrow. Aubrey has actually surpassed me in mileage over the last couple of weeks since I have been in Hobbs so much. I only have a couple of weeks left there. I go tomorrow to get my paperwork done for Covenant and I am ready to get started. At this point in my training or lack thereof, I am not going to be able to run Lean Horse. I'm disappointed but trying to be smart as well. We may try and run the New Mexico Marathon at the end of August as a training run in it's place. I'm ready to get settled again and get busy training.

7/16/2008

Late posting this since it was so busy yesterday. I was able to get in 8+ miles with Aubrey out on 1585. I am still feeling really good on my runs but am having serious doubts as to whether or not I can ramp the miles enough to get ready for Lean Horse. This will be the second ultra I've had to back out of this year if that's the case. I really don't want that to happen but I don't want to deal with an injury either. I will proceed with caution and continue preparing for Lean Horse and play it by ear.
On a lighter note, Covenant ER called yesterday and offered me a job. I am really thrilled and excited about that. I am stoked about being able to be at home and maybe get life back on course in the meantime.
Zach and I bought an Xbox 360 yesterday with his bday money. It's going to be badass too so I am going to have to peel myself away from that as well. haha

7/9/2008

Well, I never did go for a run yesterday. Just being damn lazy!! I DID get out today and do a 7.6 mile out and back/loop-type thing around the neighborhood. It's cool and cloudy out today so I probably should have done more but like I said, "I'm just being damn lazy!" I really need to find some motivation from somewhere. I haven't registered for Lean Horse yet so maybe that would be a little bit of incentive for me. I also really need to find a job back here in Lubbock so I can get refocused. Hopefully soon!

7/6/2008

I'm a little late posting this I suppose. Today's actually the 8th. Anyway, on the 6th Aubrey and I had a chance late in the afternoon to put in about 6 miles. I am feeling really good on my runs but of course I haven't done any kind of serious distance. Right now life is kind of getting in the way. On the days that I am off, Kelli is at work and I am at home with the kids. They aren't quite old enough to stay home alone while I go for a long run so I am having to wait until Kelli gets home and by that time the day is running short. It's so much easier to do when they are in school. Anyway, tonight I am going to try to get in an 8 or 10 miles hopefully. I will post an entry later tonight if I'm successful. Wish me luck.

7/2/2008

My cell phone started ringing this morning at what I consider to be a fairly early hour. I was sound asleep. Apparently, Aubrey had been at work all night and was ready to go run at 8am. He said he was getting very focused on his running now. I told him that just because HE was focused (finally after 5 months), it didn't mean he could wake ME up at 8 in the am! ha Anyway, I went ahead and rolled my lazy ass out of bed and we headed out to 1585 and ran an easy 6 miles. It really felt good to get out there earlier than usual. It was much cooler and less traffic.

I head back to Hobbs for the next 3 days but I am hoping to run at least one of them. I guess we'll see. I am really ready to be home for awhile.

7/1/2008

I think..........no, I KNOW I've been spending more time on the elliptical than out on the road. That's not good. I've really been doing some thinking and I have pretty much decided that I need to settle back down and talk to one of the hospitals here and head to one of the ER's here in Lubbock. Life is just a little too unpredictable while travel nursing. Plus with me wanting to start back to school this fall I need to be home. Aubrey and I got out and ran a simple 4 miler this morning and I felt really good. Maybe the trainer is actually helping. ha Anyway, we are supposed to get out again in the am. I'll let ya know what I find out tomorrow afternoon about work and my run. Stay tuned, peeps.

6/29/2008

Ok, I think we've got all the "happenings" done for a little bit. Man, it's been busy! My parents came down for the weekend to go to Zach's party yesterday and they left out around 2:00pm or so this afternoon. We took a nap after that and then Zach and I headed out for a short 3 miler with him on his bike. We made it around the corner and it started raining on us. I usually enjoy running in the rain but this was a little much. It was raining pretty hard and lightning was striking fairly close so we packed it in. Anthony, I looked but we couldn't find a barn to hide in. haha We made it a total of a mile and a half. ha Anyway, I got home and got on the trainer and did a 20 minute interval workout on the elliptical so the day wasn't completely wasted. I am hoping to actually put in a few miles tomorrow but the weather is supposed to be iffy so I'll have to play it by ear.

6/25/2008

Okay, so Zach's birthday is done and now on to our 14th anniversary today. I sent Kelli a dozen roses at work that were kind of like fire and ice but pink instead of red. Really pretty! Go, ME!! I am going to head to Brighton here shortly and pick up a necklace that I've had my eye on for awhile and then we are all going to head out to eat after she gets off work. Not sure where to eat yet but it should be fun nonetheless. I included a pic of me "looking spiffy." You won't see it often so enjoy it. Oh, and that's about as spiffy as I get. I don't do suits and ties!

No running today but I did get on the trainer for a good 20 minute interval workout and did upper body strength training and core work. Should suffice for today. Back to Hobbs tomorrow and Friday then off for 5 days. Time to ramp it up.

6/24/2008

Howdy all! Today is Zach's birthday. ELEVEN years! Pure craziness. We got out this morning and bought Zach a new hindcatcher's mitt and a new baseball helmet. He was pretty stoked! This weekend is his party out at the Main Event which should be pretty fun for everyone. We're going to bowl and play Laser Tag. His big present will be given to him at the party. We are going to get him an electric guitar and lessons to go with it. God help us.
I was able to get out and put in about 4 miles or so while in Hobbs. At least I think so since my Garmin ran out of power after a mile and a half. Oops! Aubrey and I plan on a nice little 6 miler tomorrow so I am looking forward to that. I'll let ya know how it goes.

PS In picture #3 his tongue makes "eleven" years. Just so ya know! What a moron!

6/19/2008

We got out and ran a little 5k around the house yesterday afternoon in the humidity. We had some pretty good storms in the area the night before and we are so adapted to the extremely dry air in Lubbock that the humidity around us was kind of soul-sucking. I can't imagine having to live in an area that humid all the time but I guess I would get used to it eventually. Anyway, after the run I got some good upper body strength training in and today I am a little sore in the pecs and biceps. That's a great feeling! I love feeling like I have done something. I am going to take today off and just recover a little. I head back to Hobbs tomorrow so I will try to get a couple of short runs in while there.

6/17/2008

WOW! I have to give myself several thumbs up for my fantastic run today. It was in the low 90's and a cool breeze blowing, strangely enough, out of the southeast. I felt really, really good on this run. No aches or pains or anything. Maybe my body is finally starting to cooperate with me. Gonna hit the road again tomorrow and try and run another 6 or maybe 7 miles. We'll see how it goes. I am pretty happy so far with my mileage this week.

6/16/2008

Aubrey and I headed out, stupidly, to 1585 this afternoon for a quick 6 miler. DAMN, it was hot!! Around 100 degrees and probably more than that radiating off of the asphalt. I like training in the heat but this was a little much. I figure the best part of running in the heat is............when your finished running. ha When I got home I took a cool shower and felt much better! I am getting ready to start ramping up for Lean Horse so I am going to have to get some discipline and start getting up early in the morning for my longer runs on my days off. I hate running that early in the morning but I'm not sure I am going to have much choice. I'm just not an early bird.

6/14/2008

Man, I have been lazy about keeping up with the blog lately. I've been able to run for the last 3 days and felt great. I ran a couple of 4 milers on Thursday and Friday and then the kids and I got up and headed to Levelland this am for our run with the WTRC. There was a pretty good turnout so that made it more fun. The kids ran the 2 miler and both placed 3rd in their categories. Zach ran his in 18:08 and Kenzie ran it in 26:36. I think she walked too much. She hasn't really achieved the drive to win yet. ha I can't say much for that myself since I just like to run LONG not FAST. ha Anyway, I ran fairly well myself and placed 4th in my age group. I was able to keep my average pace around 8:38. The course, according to my Garmin, measured out at 6.03 miles instead of a full 10K. I think the race director was worried about it since some of the other runners with GPS devices had said the same thing. I told him not to worry about it, that it was a great way to get a PR! ha Oh, well. I am going to hit the road again tomorrow as well and put in another 6 or more miles. We shall see.

6/9/2008

The last 3 days have been pretty nice. I've been able to run all 3 days without knee pain so I'm really pleased about that. Aubrey and I have been running a little over 4 miles each time since he's just starting to get back into it again. We have a 10k race coming up this Saturday with the West Texas Running Club as well which should be lots of fun. My kids have signed up for the 2 miler too so it will be fun to watch them. Makenzie was fairly reluctant to run this time for reasons unknown. She never could come up with a good reason not to run so she's running. Better that than sitting on her ass at the house. Zach seemed fairly excited about it even though he hasn't run since the 4 miler back in February, not counting baseball.

So on a different note, my agency was unable to find me an ER to work in closer to home (what the hell ever) so I had to renew my contract at Hobbs. I like the ER and the people that I work with there however I am still kind of pissed because I gave my agency plenty of time to find me another place closer to home. The nurse should not have to do the agency's work for them. It is supposed to be the other way around and they need to remember that. I am starting back to school in August so I am not sure what I am going to do work-wise once that starts..........but I'll figure it out as usual.

6/1/2008

Damn, it's hot today! 100 degrees plus at the park! I may have been able to say, "Flame On!!" and taken off. ha
Aubrey and I ran about 3.5 miles around the park at his house this afternoon in that heat and really enjoyed it. What a pair of dumbasses! ha OH, well, let the heat training begin.
My knee felt a little weak but otherwise good. No ITB tightness today either, I guess the foam roller is doing it's job well. Only 3 more days at Hobbs then I am hopefully home for a while. I'm not sure what my next assignment will be but I am really hoping that it will be closer to home.

5/31/2008

Today was my first day back on the roads in 8 days. Aubrey and I ran just a little over 3 miles in a loop around the house. I was really encouraged that my knee felt okay through most of it however I could have played a John Denver ditty on my IT Band once we went past 2 miles. Man, it got tight!! I just need to keep working it out and it will be fine I think. I also need to focus on getting more quad strength so I am going to work on the elliptical as well as some good plyometrics.
Aubrey seems to be determined to "get back into it" since he has only run 5 or 6 times since Rocky back in February. We plan on going for another 3-5 miles tomorrow so we'll see how we both do.